Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its spending is in the current financial year on tackling alcohol misuse and what its estimate is of the numbers suffering from severe or chronic misuse.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive has made £1.845 million available through central budgets in this financial year to support local and national action to tackle alcohol problems. Funding for services addressing alcohol problems is also provided within resources allocated to NHS boards and local authorities but is not specifically identified. The Health Education Board for Scotland alcohol specific budget for this year is a further £490,000.

  There is no standard definition of severe or chronic misuse. The Scottish Health Survey identifies heavy drinking. In the 1998 survey, 15% of men aged 16-74 drank more than 35 units per week and 6% of women aged 16-74 drank more than 21 units.

Arts

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Deputy Minister for Sport, the Arts and Culture has had any discussions with the chairman or other representatives of the Scottish Arts Council regarding the future of its director.

Allan Wilson: Yes, the Chairman of the Scottish Arts Council keeps me generally informed about developments affecting the council and its role. All employment arrangements are matters for the council, and it is the council which employs the director.

Bees

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail the number of reported incidences of mites and varroa disease in the bee population in each of the past five years, giving the most appropriate area breakdown available.

Ross Finnie: Incidence of Varroa destructor in Scotland (number of infested apiaries) is as follows:

  


Numbers of infested apiaries1



 

1997
  

1998
  

1999
  

2000
  

2001 (to 23 Oct.)
  



Dumfries & Galloway (plus part of Borders region)
  

9
  
 

4
  

4
  

8
  



Fife/Perthshire
  
 

8
  

16
  

12
  

15
  



Argyll and Bute
  
 
 
 

1
  
 



Total
  

9
  

8
  

20
  

17
  

23
  



  Notes:

  1. The numbers of infested apiaries in the table are following detection of Varroa destructor in samples submitted by SEERAD bees officers and findings of the mite in samples of bee debris submitted for analysis at SASA by beekeepers. Some apiaries in the table may have been recorded as infested in previous seasons.

Bees

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to prevent the spread of mites and varroa disease in the bee population.

Ross Finnie: All bee movements to non-infected islands from within the Statutory Infected Area (SIA) are prohibited. As a result, on 8 December 2000 the SIA was extended to cover the whole of mainland Scotland and the Isle of Bute. By this action it is hoped that we will maintain a source of varroa free bees.

  In addition, we continue to monitor the varroa situation throughout Scotland by testing samples submitted by beekeepers for signs of varroa. However, it is generally accepted that the spread of varroa throughout mainland Scotland is inevitable.

Bridges

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive payments in respect of the costs of repair of the Erskine Bridge from those parties considered responsible for damaging the bridge.

Sarah Boyack: This matter is still working its way through the court process. Following the serving of the summons, defences have been lodged and the pleadings are now being adjusted. As there is still some way to go in procedural terms, it is impossible to predict how long this matter will take.

Cancer

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the cancer budget in each of the past five years and in 2001 to date was spent on palliative care.

Susan Deacon: Cancer is a national priority for NHSScotland. NHS boards receive an annual revenue allocation. It is for NHS boards to determine how best to spend the resources allocated to them, to meet national priorities and address the health needs of their resident populations. Details of investment in specific cancer services by NHS boards are not held centrally.

Central Heating

Shona Robison (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes owned by elderly people in Dundee have been fitted with central heating under the central heating initiative.

Jackie Baillie: Fifty-seven homes in Dundee have already had central heating installed, or are having it installed at present. In addition, more than 500 homes are in the process of being surveyed and Eaga plan to install central heating in all of these which are eligible by the end of March 2002.

Child Welfare

Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to reduce the number of children abused and neglected in Scotland and improve services offered to those children.

Nicol Stephen: Jack McConnell announced a multi-disciplinary Child Protection Review in March 2001 to promote the reduction of abuse or neglect of children and to improve services. The review is due to report next summer. The Action Plan on Better Integrated Children’s Services which was published on 30 October sets out a range of ways in which local authorities, the NHS, the voluntary sector and others can provide better, more integrated services for vulnerable children.

Children

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children are currently detained in secure accommodation places and what the probable period of detention and reason for detention is in each case.

Nicol Stephen: Day to day information is not held centrally. The latest available centrally held information is for 31 March 2000. On that day, there were 87 children in secure accommodation.

  The following table gives details of the length of stay and reason for placement for all children discharged from secure accommodation in the year ending 31 March 2000:

  Number of children discharged from secure accommodation in the year to 31 March 2000, by reason of placement in secure accommodation and by length of stay on discharge.

  


Reason for placement (see codelist below)
  

Length of stay on discharge
  

Total
  



Less than 1 month
  

1 month to under 2 months
  

2 months to under 3 months
  

3 months to under 6 months
  

6 months to under 1 year
  

1 year to under 2 years
  

2 years or more
  



91
  

1
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

1
  



92
  

1
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

1
  

2
  



93
  

2
  

0
  

2
  

7
  

6
  

2
  

2
  

21
  



94
  

6
  

6
  

8
  

20
  

7
  

1
  

0
  

48
  



95
  

12
  

7
  

14
  

20
  

6
  

2
  

0
  

61
  



96
  

3
  

0
  

5
  

5
  

1
  

1
  

0
  

15
  



97
  

19
  

1
  

2
  

7
  

3
  

0
  

0
  

32
  



99
  

23
  

12
  

10
  

25
  

13
  

3
  

0
  

86
  



Total
  

67
  

26
  

41
  

84
  

36
  

9
  

3
  

266
  



  Codelist

  91. Order made under section 44(1) of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

  92. Order made under section 205 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

  93. Order made under section 208 of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

  94. Order made under section 70(9) of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, to which is attached a condition authorising use of Secure Accommodation.

  95. A Place of Safety Order or Warrant made under the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, authorising the use of Secure Accommodation.

  96. Where committal to a Place of Safety or other temporary detention is made under the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1995.

  97. The authority of the Director of Social Work and the person in charge of the establishment, pending the convening of a Children’s Hearing to consider the case.

  99. Other.

Community Care

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assessments of carers’ needs were made by each local authority in the last year for which figures are available.

Malcolm Chisholm: The information requested is not held centrally. The needs of carers may be assessed in different ways, either as part of the assessment of the person they care for or through a separate assessment. We are working with local authorities to develop consistent information on assessment of carers.

Community Care

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what duties it has placed, or plans to place, on local authorities to identify and assess the needs of individual carers.

Malcolm Chisholm: Local authorities currently have a statutory duty to carry out an assessment for any carer who requests it, when they are assessing the person the carer looks after. Official guidance makes clear that authorities are expected to ensure that they make carers aware of their right to assessment as a routine part of assessment of the person they care for. New provisions in the Community Care and Health Bill currently before Parliament will extend carers' entitlement to an assessment by giving them the right to request an assessment at any time. We intend to issue clear guidance to local authorities and other agencies to ensure carers are aware of their new independent right to assessment.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many clinical assistant posts have been created for (a) orthodontics, (b) surgical dentistry and (c) paediatric dentistry, as outlined in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland .

Susan Deacon: The commitment in An Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland  to create clinical assistant posts in various specialties was intended to provide additional investment in continuing professional development for general dental practitioners (GDPs).

  Since the publication of the Action Plan, and in the light of the recommendations made by the Doctors’ and Dentists’ Pay Review Body, considerable investment has been made in the continuing professional development of GDPs and specialists in dentistry in other ways, and therefore no additional clinical assistant posts in these areas have been created. The additional investment is £1.5 million by the end of this year.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the fee structure for specialist treatments such as orthodontics and sedation has been reviewed, as recommended in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland .

Susan Deacon: The narrative and fees for sedation, contained in the Statement of Dental Remuneration, have been reviewed to increase patient safety.

  The Executive is currently looking at how orthodontics should be delivered in future in Scotland.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is supporting the provision of 470 dental nurse student places and 30 dental technician student places for basic annual training, as recommended in the report by the Scottish Advisory Committee on the   Dental Workforce , Workforce Planning for Dentistry in Scotland: A Strategic Review – Interim Report and Recommendations .

Susan Deacon: There has been considerable development and support for all of the professions complementary to dentistry. The Executive are currently developing a strategy for the education and training of these professions, which will be launched within the next two months.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the enhanced registration scheme has been introduced for six to eight-year-olds in deprivation categories five to seven which includes the requirement for fissure sealing the first molars of these children, as detailed in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland,  August 2000.

Susan Deacon: We have concluded successfully discussions with the dental profession on the introduction of a caries prevention scheme for six and seven-year-olds in all deprivation categories which includes fissure sealing the first molars of these children. I will announce shortly further details of the introduction of this scheme.

Dental Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the additional £1 million made available this financial year as part of its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland has been allocated to enhance dental health.

Susan Deacon: Funding has been made available towards dentists continuing professional development and will be made available in respect of the caries prevention scheme.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether its target of 120 dental students graduating annually from both dental schools, as set out in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland , is sufficient to satisfy the level of demand and ensure access to treatment for all who wish it.

Susan Deacon: We are committed to improving access to dental services in Scotland and increasing our targeted output of dental graduates is only one of several options. We are aware that further increases to the record number of dentists currently working in Scotland will not in itself ensure equal access to treatment across all parts of the country. This is why we are looking to expand the contribution that can be made by the professions complementary to dentistry and are also considering further ways to attract dentists to Scotland, particularly to work in remote and rural areas.

  The Scottish Advisory Committee on the Dental Workforce will continue to monitor the situation regarding the provision of the dental workforce in Scotland.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the new dental therapy course and basic training courses for dental nurses in all areas have been established, as recommended in its Action Plan for Dental Services in Scotland .

Susan Deacon: At present no dental therapist courses have been established. We are currently undertaking a feasibility study in Glasgow Dental Hospital and School to identify the costs and structures required to initiate a dental therapy course in Scotland.

  Through generalised support of dental nurse training there has been a considerable increase in the numbers of dental nurses obtaining dental nurse qualifications. In the last 12-month period I can confirm that we have met our target with 213 dental nurses newly qualified in Scotland.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the current deficiency in funding for the Dundee Dental School has been corrected in the light of the work on the funding of dental schools undertaken by the National Purchasing Unit in Sheffield and outlined in the report by the Scottish Advisory Committee on the Dental Workforce, Workforce Planning for Dentistry in Scotland: A Strategic Review – Interim Report and Recommendations .

Susan Deacon: Following work carried out by the National Purchasing Unit on behalf of the Scottish Executive, Dundee Dental School has received a substantial increase in funding over the last four years and is now fully funded to meet the cost of providing training to undergraduate dental students.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in taking forward the recommendation in the report by the Scottish Advisory Committee on the Dental Workforce, Workforce Planning for Dentistry in Scotland: A Strategic Review – Interim Report and Recommendations , that the provision of basic education and training for dental hygienists and therapists should be planned and funded centrally using a similar structure to that which has been developed for dental students.

Susan Deacon: Dental hygienist and therapist training is now planned centrally and we have agreed target numbers for Edinburgh Dental Institute, Glasgow Dental Hospital and School and Dundee Dental Hospital and School. This will be centrally funded in the same way as already developed for dental students.

Diabetes

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to improve the services available on the NHS to people with diabetes.

Susan Deacon: The Scottish Executive is committed to developing long-term solutions to tackle the growing problem of diabetes in Scotland. We will publish the Scottish Diabetes Framework by the end of this year. Two key components of the Framework - clinical guidelines and clinical standards - were published on World Diabetes Day on 14 November.

Drug Misuse

Mrs Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what actions it plans to take following the publication of its report , Estimating the National and Local Prevalence of Problem Drug Misuse in Scotland .

Iain Gray: This report provides, for the first time, a comprehensive picture of misuse of the drugs which cause the most harm in Scotland.

  The findings will help the Executive to target resources more effectively in future on the areas most in need. Regional figures will help Drug Action Teams and statutory agencies to provide services for drug users, which are being backed by record levels of investment from the Executive.

Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the composition is of the Education Task Force associated with National Qualifications and what the rationale is for the allocation of places to it.

Mr Jack McConnell: The National Qualifications Task Group includes representatives from the schools sector, the further education sector, education authorities, Learning and Teaching Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

  Members are:

  Colin MacLean, National Exam Co-Ordinator (Chair)

  Margaret Clarke, Learning and Teaching Scotland

  Anton Colella, Scottish Qualifications Authority

  John Young, Scottish Qualifications Authority

  Ken Cunningham, Hillhead High School

  Margaret Doran, Stirling Council

  Tom Kelly, Association of Scottish Colleges

  John Laird, Scottish Further Education Unit

  George MacBride, Govan High

  Ken Muir, HM Inspectorate of Education

  Ian Ovens, Dundee College

  Gordon Keir, SEELLD

  Gillian Crosier, SEELLD

  Francesca Osowska, SEED

  Members were chosen because they represented the range of organisations responsible for delivery of National Qualifications.

Education

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) whether there are any guidelines on (i) how many computers schoolrooms should be equipped with, (ii) the minimum network requirements of supporting such provision and (iii) best practice in respect of educational use of computers and (b) how many schools are not currently operating within any such guidelines.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Executive does not issue guidelines on how computers should be deployed in schools or on the associated support arrangements. These are matters for local decision by schools and education authorities in the light of teaching and learning policies and available resources. In 1998, to help support information and communications technology (ICT) planning, all schools and authorities were issued with Scottish Schools: Using the Superhighways , a guide to ICT and development planning.

  Information about best practice in the use of ICT is available from a wide range of sources, including The Use of ICT in Learning and Teaching, published by HM Inspectorate of Education in 2000 and available on the internet at http://www.ngflscotland.gov.uk/teachers/ICTLT.

Education

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the relationship between class size and examination results.

Mr Jack McConnell: No assessment has been made of the impact of class sizes on examination results in Scotland. As part of the agreement A Teaching Profession for the 21st Century , the Scottish Executive has agreed to commission research into the correlation between class sizes and attainment.

Environment

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has established a mechanism to provide small businesses with practical, sector-specific advice and information on compliance with legislation and regulations relating to environmental issues.

Rhona Brankin: The Executive is part of the sponsor group for a UK-wide initiative called "Netregs" that will develop sector-specific, web-based, environmental regulation compliance tools for small-and-medium sized businesses.

  A variety of guidance documents are produced by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency for individual regulatory regimes.

Fisheries

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many fatal accident inquiries have been held in the past five years into the loss of the lives of crews of fishing vessels and whether it is informed of the recommendations made in such cases.

Rhona Brankin: Fatal Accident Inquiries (FAIs) in Scotland are a matter for the Procurator Fiscal Service. I understand that while statistics are collated on the number of FAIs held, these are not categorised in a way which permits the information requested to be provided.

  It is for the Sheriff involved to determine whether or not the findings of an inquiry are set out in writing. Determinations are not routinely copied to the Scottish Executive.

Health

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has held any discussions with Dr Andrew Walker of the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics in the University of Glasgow, in light of his report on hospital-acquired infections, and what the outcome of any such discussions was.

Susan Deacon: Health Department officials met Dr Walker on 12 October to discuss his study and explain the Scottish Executive's policy on Healthcare Associated Infection.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to health boards regarding the additional £18.6 million for improvements to general medical practices announced by the Minister for Health and Community Care on 13 June 2001.

Susan Deacon: A Scottish Executive News Release (SE1410/2001) on 13 June 2001, referred to an investment of £18.5 million for Personal Medical Services. This additional investment was announced on 19 February 2001. At the same time boards were informed of their indicative allocations by letter, which included guidance on the application and funding arrangements in relation to Personal Medical Service pilot schemes. Updated, comprehensive guidance was published by the Scottish Executive Health Department in May 2001.

Health

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the £18.6 million announced on 13 June 2001 for improvements to general medical practices will go directly to the practices themselves.

Susan Deacon: The money will go to practices in support of a contract, agreed locally, which will deliver enhanced services to the practice population. We have provided £18.5 million of additional investment over three years for Personal Medical Services pilot sites. This is enabling GPs and their teams to focus on the clinical needs of their patients, by testing out more flexible ways of providing existing and additional services, and the best use of professional skills. Personal Medical Services pilots are being used to improve access to primary care services, reduce inequalities and address recruitment and retention problems, particularly in remote, rural and deprived areas.

Health

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to encourage and support the establishment of a nurse education programme in trauma rehabilitation.

Susan Deacon: Education Institutions do not provide specific trauma rehabilitation programmes in Scotland. However, they provide programmes that relate to rehabilitation. Post-registration education and training is the responsibility of NHS trusts as employers. They work directly with educational providers to develop new programmes to match their education and training needs.

Health

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the actual cost was to the NHS in each of the past five years of patients failing to keep appointments and what steps it is taking to reduce these occurrences.

Susan Deacon: Information is not available centrally on the cost to the NHS of patients failing to keep appointments. Information is available on the numbers of patients who did not attend their first out-patient appointment with a consultant, and on the average cost of a consultant out-patient attendance. This information is published on the Information and Statistics Division website at:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/Scottish_Health_Statistics/SHS2000/M5.pdf

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/isd/Scottish_Health_Statistics/subject/Costs/2001/index.htm

  The Executive believes that best progress in reducing the number of patients failing to attend their NHS appointments will be achieved through improved communications between the NHS and patients and by re-designing services around patients. This is now being actively taken forward by a senior NHSScotland working group.

Health Spending

Ben Wallace (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a detailed breakdown of the 2000-01 underspend in the health budget by subject area.

Susan Deacon: Of the health budget of £5.5 billion in 2000-01 about £144 million was carried forward into the new financial year, all of which will be spent on better health and health services.

  The Scottish Executive Accounts will provide a detailed breakdown of the underspend. Audit Scotland are currently auditing the accounts and they will be laid before Parliament by January 2002.

Lifelong Learning

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what initiatives it is taking to promote lifelong learning amongst those aged between 50 and 65 who are not in receipt of state benefits but who have retired early on small occupational incomes.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The promotion of lifelong learning is a key function of learndirect scotland which is making access to learning easier for everyone, regardless of age. The learndirect scotland helpline provides information and advice on almost 70,000 learning opportunities. This includes details of courses that are eligible for Individual Learning Account incentives, which are available to every adult in Scotland.

Livestock

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in discussions with Her Majesty’s Government on the possibility of a national top-up to the Sheep Annual Premium.

Ross Finnie: I initiated contacts with other UK ministers about a top-up payment for 2001 in the early days of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. The matter remains under review. The final Sheep Annual Premium rate for this year will not be known until January.

Livestock

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many businesses (a) have submitted applications and (b) have received funding under the (i) Sheep Annual Premium Scheme, (ii) Suckler Cow Premium Scheme, (iii) Beef Special Premium Scheme, (iv) Extensification Premium Scheme and (v) Arable Area Payment Scheme from April 1999 to date, broken down by each Environment and Rural Affairs Department area office in the Highlands and Islands area, and how many have applications currently under consideration.

Ross Finnie: The information you require for the 1999 and 2000 scheme year is shown. Information has not been supplied for the 2001 scheme year because the payment information is incomplete.

  



ERAD Area Office
  

AAPS
  

AAPS
  



Scheme year 1999
  

Scheme year 2000
  



applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  

applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  



Oban
  

80
  

80
  

0
  

80
  

80
  

0
  



Elgin
  

157
  

157
  

0
  

150
  

150
  

0
  



Ayr
  

40
  

40
  

0
  

37
  

37
  

0
  



Inverness
  

447
  

447
  

0
  

478
  

478
  

0
  



Portree
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

0
  



Benbecula
  

271
  

271
  

0
  

276
  

276
  

0
  



Kirkwall
  

417
  

417
  

0
  

430
  

430
  

0
  



Stornoway
  

0
  

0
  

0
  

1
  

1
  

0
  



Lairg
  

53
  

53
  

0
  

42
  

42
  

0
  



Thurso
  

302
  

302
  

0
  

288
  

288
  

0
  



Lerwick
  

20
  

20
  

0
  

21
  

21
  

0
  



  


 
ERAD Area Office
  

SAPS
  

SAPS
  



Scheme year 1999
  

Scheme year 2000
  



applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  

applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  



Oban
  

784
  

761
  

15
  

768
  

753
  

6
  



Elgin
  

114
  

114
  

0
  

114
  

111
  

0
  



Ayr
  

97
  

95
  

1
  

95
  

94
  

0
  



Inverness
  

993
  

965
  

15
  

966
  

934
  

13
  



Portree
  

491
  

485
  

3
  

482
  

474
  

7
  



Benbecula
  

614
  

602
  

8
  

600
  

584
  

4
  



Kirkwall
  

447
  

439
  

2
  

427
  

419
  

5
  



Stornoway
  

1398
  

1330
  

23
  

1228
  

1268
  

19
  



Lairg
  

435
  

422
  

9
  

437
  

429
  

3
  



Thurso
  

662
  

649
  

8
  

646
  

636
  

7
  



Lerwick
  

1162
  

1139
  

16
  

1126
  

1105
  

12
  



  


 
ERAD Area Office
  

SCPS
  

SCPS
  



Scheme year 1999
  

Scheme year 2000
  



applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  

applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  



Oban
  

547
  

539
  

7
  

520
  

511
  

3
  



Elgin
  

152
  

152
  

0
  

146
  

146
  

0
  



Ayr
  

63
  

62
  

0
  

59
  

59
  

0
  



Inverness
  

753
  

738
  

10
  

708
  

688
  

12
  



Portree
  

249
  

242
  

4
  

234
  

222
  

9
  



Benbecula
  

216
  

214
  

0
  

204
  

198
  

3
  



Kirkwall
  

596
  

593
  

2
  

562
  

557
  

3
  



Stornoway
  

91
  

90
  

0
  

92
  

89
  

0
  



Lairg
  

178
  

176
  

1
  

165
  

159
  

6
  



Thurso
  

485
  

479
  

3
  

457
  

449
  

1
  



Lerwick
  

148
  

146
  

2
  

142
  

137
  

4
  



  


 
ERAD Area Office
  

BSPS
  

BSPS
  



Scheme year 1999
  

Scheme year 2000
  



applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  

applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  



Oban
  

1,446
  

436
  

22
  

1,374
  

448
  

13
  



Elgin
  

563
  

148
  

4
  

543
  

135
  

13
  



Ayr
  

317
  

71
  

2
  

294
  

68
  

0
  



Inverness
  

2,115
  

563
  

22
  

2,090
  

558
  

2
  



Portree
  

118
  

74
  

1
  

126
  

71
  

2
  



Benbecula
  

92
  

51
  

0
  

92
  

50
  

0
  



Kirkwall
  

2,366
  

640
  

10
  

2,440
  

609
  

6
  



Stornoway
  

122
  

75
  

3
  

141
  

82
  

0
  



Lairg
  

222
  

94
  

0
  

227
  

119
  

1
  



Thurso
  

1,108
  

375
  

2
  

1,173
  

379
  

5
  



Lerwick
  

222
  

111
  

1
  

213
  

103
  

0
  



  


 
ERAD Area Office
  

EPS
  

EPS
  



Scheme year 1999
  

Scheme year 2000
  



applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  

applications received
  

payments issued
  

applications under consideration
  



Oban
  

Not applicable
  

743
  

422
  

Not available
  



Elgin
  

Not applicable
  

165
  

123
  

Not available
  



Ayr
  

Not applicable
  

99
  

60
  

Not available
  



Inverness
  

Not applicable
  

884
  

412
  

Not available
  



Portree
  

Not applicable
  

267
  

71
  

Not available
  



Benbecula
  

Not applicable
  

282
  

45
  

Not available
  



Kirkwall
  

Not applicable
  

669
  

576
  

Not available
  



Stornoway
  

Not applicable
  

140
  

72
  

Not available
  



Lairg
  

Not applicable
  

202
  

96
  

Not available
  



Thurso
  

Not applicable
  

576
  

364
  

Not available
  



Lerwick
  

Not applicable
  

179
  

98
  

Not available
  



  Notes:

  The applications received include applications withdrawn/rejected; this explains the difference between the number of applications received and the combined payments issued and applications under consideration figures.

  BSPS applications received figures reflect the fact that producers can submit more than one application per year. However, payments are consolidated and paid per producer rather than per claim.

  No figures are given for EPS 1999 because applications and payments were combined with the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme and the Beef Special Premium Scheme.

  The 2000 EPS applications under consideration figures will not be available until significant program changes are made. We have no plans to introduce these changes.

Livestock

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to bring forward legislation equivalent to the Animal Health Bill which has been introduced in England and Wales.

Ross Finnie: I believe that changes to Animal Health Legislation will be necessary in the light of experience gained during the recent foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. However, a Scottish Bill will not be introduced before industry and other interests have been consulted fully about its possible content.

Local Government

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to implement those aspects of the Report of the Renewing Local Democracy Working Group not concerned with proportional representation.

Peter Peacock: If we judge it appropriate to announce some decisions earlier than others then we shall do so. The majority of the recommendations dealing with widening access to council membership are for bodies other than the Executive to take forward.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current position is on the relocation of jobs in non-departmental public bodies from Edinburgh and Glasgow to other locations in Scotland.

Angus MacKay: I refer the member to the answer I gave to question S1W-19681 on 19 November 2001.

Nursing

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making with its plans to recruit and retain additional nurses.

Susan Deacon: We are committed to recruiting more nurses to NHSScotland. Over the next five years 10,000 more nurses and midwives will qualify in Scotland, 1,500 more than previously planned.

  The Nursing and Midwifery Convention held on 19 November 2001 provided an important springboard for a renewed national effort to secure the nurses needed for NHSScotland - both now and in the future. The Executive has made available £1.5 million of immediate investment specifically dedicated to ideas generated by this convention.

Parliamentary Questions

Mr Gil Paterson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average length of time has been for giving (a) substantive answers to all written parliamentary questions and (b) substantive answers to written parliamentary questions which received a holding answer, since May 1999.

Mr Tom McCabe: Information in the form requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost. In the light of the provisions of the Parliament's Standing Orders, ministers aim to answer parliamentary questions for written answer within 14 days (or 28 days for those lodged in the seven days before, or during, a period of recess of more than four days). The Executive publishes regular audits of performance which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre. The latest published audit, which covers the period April to June 2001, showed that the proportion of questions answered ahead of, or on time, was just over 70%. For the equivalent period in 2000 the proportion was 51%.

Refuges

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to provide funding to support additional places in women’s refuges.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Scottish Executive is providing £10 million for a capital Refuge Development Programme to increase and improve refuge provision. Revenue funding is the responsibility of the local authorities and bids under the programme were required to indicate sources of such funding. Twenty-four local authorities have submitted bids and all have complied with this requirement. We have the full support of CoSLA for this programme.

Renewable Energy

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the First Minister what progress is being made in establishing biomass projects under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland).

Mr Jim Wallace: Under the Renewables Obligation Scotland, our objective is that renewable energy sources in Scotland will increase their share of the electricity market from around 12% now to 18% by 2010. We expect a range of renewable energy technologies to contribute to this increase, including wind, hydro, and biomass and, in the longer term, wave power.

Road Accidents

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1O-3917 by Iain Gray on 25 October 2001, what steps it will take to meet the requirements of those who seek access to police road traffic accident reports.

Iain Gray: Police Road Traffic Accident Reports often contain sensitive information, most notably those involving fatal accidents. Such reports, if made available generally to the public, can cause great distress to victims’ families and others. Therefore, it is not appropriate that Police Road Traffic Accident Reports are made available generally to the public.

  However, the Crown Office recognises the importance of making such reports available in private to those with a legitimate interest, for example victim’s families, and this practice will continue. Of course, this will be subject to consideration of prejudice to any proceedings, either in contemplation or pending.

Scotland Act 1998

John Young (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to have discussions with Her Majesty's Government regarding the possibility of amending the Scotland Act 1998.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues.

Social Work

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to produce guidelines limiting the number of cases, particularly child protection cases, allocated to individual social workers.

Nicol Stephen: The protection of children is the responsibility of a range of services including social work, education and health. The Scottish Executive is currently leading a multi-disciplinary review to promote the reduction of abuse or neglect of children, and to improve the services for children who experience abuse or neglect. The review team will report and make recommendations to improve professional working and the regulatory framework in which professionals operate. It is premature to judge whether the recommendations are likely to include the production of guidelines on the allocation of cases to social workers.

Teaching

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers in relation to attracting individuals from the public or private sector into the teaching profession.

Mr Jack McConnell: The Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) is not a free-standing organisation, but is a forum through which the Scottish Executive, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the teacher organisations can reach collaborative decisions. Negotiations on a range of issues relating to pay and conditions are continuing through the SNCT.

  In these discussions we are conscious of the commitment of Scottish ministers to attracting a range of talented and committed individuals to the profession, from across the spectrum of Scottish society.

Tourism

Mr Frank McAveety (Glasgow Shettleston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to promote and support cultural tourism.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: Cultural tourism was identified in A New Strategy for Scottish Tourism as a product group that demonstrated good potential for growth. We will publish a new Framework for Action early in the New Year. This will include the new strategy for marketing Scotland that was announced at the industry conference earlier this week.

Tourism

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the New Strategy for Golf Tourism.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: VisitScotland have prepared an update paper on progress with implementing the golf tourism strategy. The paper, which gives information on golf development, service delivery, promotion and research and monitoring is available on the tourism industry website, www.scotexchange.net.

Tourism

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its next steps will be to assist tourism.

Mr Alasdair Morrison: We are currently reviewing our strategy for the tourism industry and will publish a Framework for Action early in the New Year. We will also review how the Area Tourist Boards can best deliver support for the industry.

Warrant Sales

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made with the development of a form of diligence to replace poindings and warrant sales.

Iain Gray: The working group set up to identify a humane and workable replacement to poinding and warrant sale reported to the Deputy First Minister on 6 July. The Deputy First Minister put the group’s recommendations out for consultation shortly afterwards. Every MSP was sent a copy of the group’s report and the accompanying consultation questions. The consultation period ended on 17 October. The Executive is currently analysing the responses received; and will make a statement on the way forward in due course.

Water Industry

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has received of the number of compulsory redundancies, if any, that will result from the creation of Scottish Water.

Ross Finnie: The existing water authorities do not have any programme of compulsory redundancies. Staffing policy under Scottish Water will be a matter for its management to consider if and when it comes into being.

Water Industry

Fiona McLeod (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has received of the number of staff who will take voluntary retirement as a result of the creation of Scottish Water in each of the financial years 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish water industry must become substantially more efficient over the next four years, with inevitable cuts in staffing levels, whether Scottish Water is created or not. I understand that under existing water authority redundancy schemes there have been so far over 1,100 expressions of interest from employees, although it is unlikely that all of these will lead to actual redundancies. The approach under Scottish Water will be a matter for its management to consider if and when it comes into being.

Youth Crime

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the national strategy recommended in the Report of the Advisory Group on Youth Crime which had a deadline for implementation no later than April 2001 has not yet been issued for consultation.

Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the amended timescale is for drawing up, issuing for consultation and implementing the national strategy as recommended in the Report of the Advisory Group on Youth Crime.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive has accepted all the recommendations by the Advisory Group on Youth Crime and work has begun on implementing them. This includes the allocation of £20 million over three years, from April 2001, to local authorities for the development of community-based programmes to reduce offending by persistent young offenders. We will produce our proposals for a national framework for tackling youth crime by the end of 2001.